April 2025 Newsletter
Spring wildflowers and where to find them
Your regional park trails are bursting with spring color this time of year, from vibrant poppies to dazzling shooting stars (pictured above). Not sure where to start? Check out our springtime blog posts for some of our favorite places to spot wildflowers. And remember to download our free Wildflower Guide to take with you while out on the trail!
Celebrate Earth Month: Pick it up, pack it out
April is Earth Month, and one of the best ways to celebrate is by doing something small to improve the Earth every day – like packing out all your trash when you visit parks, including your dog’s poop bags. It may not seem like much, but it makes a big difference. Hate carrying the bag? The video above from Leave No Trace has some easy tips – and our blog breaks it all down.
Creek cleanup in Sonoma Valley
Join us on Saturday, April 19, 8:30 a.m.-noon, to clean up Sonoma Creek – home to beavers, Coho salmon, freshwater shrimp and more – which runs through Maxwell Farms Regional Park (pictured above) and Larson Park in Sonoma Valley. Hosted in partnership with Homeless Action Sonoma, Rotary Sonoma Springs and the Sonoma Ecology Center; we'll provide tools, gloves, snacks and coffee. Free; registration required.
Fighting fire with fire
We made remarkable progress this season in the scope and impact of our wildfire resilience program. Along with our partners, we've strategically burned hundreds of acres of parkland and thousands of piles of vegetation. Watch the video to find out how we're harnessing this tool to restore ecosystems and make our parks more fire-adapted.
Want to stay informed about upcoming prescribed burns? Follow us on social media, check our website for updates or download the Watch Duty app for real-time notifications.
Investing in your parks: See the impact
Ever wonder how the renovated sports fields at Maxwell Farms Regional Park or the newly expanded trails at Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Preserve become a reality? Our latest Community Report reveals the funding strategies and vital partnerships that power the maintenance and growth of your parks.
In the past year, $10.5 million of Parks for All – Measure M sales tax dollars supported those improvements as well as projects as diverse as reforestation at Hood Mountain Regional Park and Preserve, rainwater catchment at Helen Putnam Regional Park, bird walks for seniors, camping programs for teens, a new gathering space at Tolay Lake and pond restoration at Shiloh Ranch regional parks.
Read the full report at the link below, or check out the funding video above for an overview of how all the funding pieces come together.
Big changes coming to Larson Park
We’re excited to share that our latest large-scale investment is a $4 million makeover for Larson Park in the Boyes Hot Springs community of Sonoma Valley. Park visitors can look forward to restored soccer and baseball fields, updated tennis courts and play areas and new pickleball courts.
Construction starts this month and is made possible by Parks for All – Measure M sales tax revenue, dedicated infrastructure dollars from Sonoma County's District 1, crucial support from California State Parks and generous contributions from the Sonoma County Parks Foundation and the Saba Foundation. We can't wait for you to enjoy a new Larson Park by the end of the year!
Science Saturday
Junior scientists (ages 6-12) have two chances to build miniature animal habitats on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., at Spring Lake Regional Park's Environmental Discovery Center. Adults can drop them off and enjoy some kid-free time in nature during these hour-long sessions. Cost is $5-7; registration required.
Hikes with Hounds
Learn how to train the best four-legged hiking partner you could ever have during this evening hike, 5-6:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 17 at Tolay Lake Regional Park. Our certified dog trainer will teach you how to support your best bud to walk nicely on the trails. Free; no registration required.
Saturday walk in the Park
Join us on Saturday, April 26, 10:30-11:30 a.m., for a stroll from the Gualala Point Regional Park visitors center to the ocean while learning about the natural history of the wildlife and plants of this coastal park. Free; registration required.
Winging it Wednesday
Join us for a leisurely bird walk at Sonoma Valley Regional Park on Wednesday, April 30, 8:30-10:30 a.m. This outing is tailored for older adults to enjoy nature, good company and the park's birdlife. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair. Free; no registration required.
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Sonoma County Regional Parks
400 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-2041
ParksMarketing@Sonoma-County.org
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